Signaling apparatus



Allg. 3l, 1937. W L BALDWlN 2,091,843

S IGNAL ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. -11 1936 BY www MMM ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 3l, y 1937 UNITED STATES PATNT 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling apparatus and has particular relation to signaling apparatus for indicating various operations or movements of an automobile, such as right turns, left turns, and stopping of the automobile. v f

It is an object 'of the invention to provide signaling apparatus which is an improvement upon the apparatus shown in my Patents Nos. 1,511,100 and 1,618,907 and which is of sturdy, rugged construction and will operatefor long periods of time with freedom from wear and breakage.

A further object is to provide signaling appa-j ratus having a pivotally mounted kdirectional pointer or arrow for indicating right and left turns of the vehicle and which is supported directly by glass walls provided in the casing which encloses the pointer or arrow.

A further object is the provision in signaling apparatus of the type embodying an electromagnetically operated directional pointer of improved contact means which insure positive electrical connections and minimize the danger of grounds or short circuits. 1

Another object is to provide auxiliary indicating means in signaling apparatus o f the above type which is caused to operate by the pivoting of the directional pointer to a, pre-determined point.

For a full understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying vdrawing in which- Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of signaling apparatus embodying my present invention illustrated as attached to the fender of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation through the center of my signaling apparatus with the pointer disposed in upright or vertical position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the central portion of my signaling apparatus in the direction of the arrows on the line 3-3 in Fig.A 2; l

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of electromagnets, relay switches and lights, and also illustrates diagrammatically the electrical circuits;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the portions of the casing surrounding the base of the signaling apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of thev locking-mecha- I4 therethrough for the electric wires, an insulating block I5 suitably secured to the upper end -by providing convex projections integral with the outer surface of the glass and having metal frames formed around the edge of the glass disks and provided with vertical portions 2li and 20 and inwardly projecting peripheral flanges 2| and 2|' which pass over"Y and engage the rim I6. The metal frame may be secured to the glass as by a suitable esive if desired.

Adjacent the lower portion of the shells the flanges 2| and 2|' are formed with cutout portions 22 and 22' for receiving the base member, and one of the cutout portions such as 22 is of sufiicient size so as to permit relative circumferential shifting of the shell il with -respect to the shell I'| and the base I2. The purpose of providing for the limited circumferential shifting is to permit of closing and opening the latch mechanism which I provide for retaining the casing in closed position. This mechanism includes a plurality of angularly disposed laterally projecting tapering members 23 formed on theinner edge of ilange 2|' at spaced intervals and which are adapted to project into complementary angucounterclockwise direction the members 23 will be released from the notches 24 while rotation ofthe shell I1' in a clockwise direction will cause the members 23 to project into the notch 24 so as to retain the shells in closed position. To prevent accidental relative shifting between the two shell members while in closed position I provide suitable locking mechanism such as U- shaped eyepieces 25 and\25 on each of the ilanges cured.

The directional pointer II pivotally mounted inside of the casing is formed of transparent front and rear members v2li which may have an arrow outlined thereon in red as shown at 29, and lateral ends 30 formed of a non-transparent material and suitably secured to the side members 28.

Suitably secured across the central portion of the inside of the arrow is a supporting platform 3| formed of insulating material in which are em- .2| and`2I through which a lock 2l 'may be sel..

bedded a pair of pivots 32 and 32' formed of good conducting material and which extend outwardly through the sides 28 of the arrow through spacers 33 and 33' into bearings 34 and 34' likewise formed of a conducting material and which are embedded in the thickened portions |9 and I9' of the glass sides. The lower end of the arrow is pro- 5 vided with a counterweight asA at 35 so as to aid in returning the arrow to its vertical position after operation has been completed as shown vin Fig. 2, and above the counter-weight the arrow is preterably provided with a. light 36 to illuminate the l arrow and make it more visible.

l The arrow is normally held in vertical position as shown in the dotted line in Fig. 1, by means of slidable pin or latch 31 engageable in a keeper formed in member I and passing through an opening in counterweight 35 to the inside of the arrow where it is connected to armature 31 which is controlled by the `pole 4| of electromagnet 46 disposed inside the arrow. When the arrow points to the right as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it indicates a right turn of the vehicle; while when it points to the left it indicates a left turn.

To control the pivotal movement of the arrow so as to cause it to point right or left as desired,

I provide an arcuate electromagnet indicated at 38 having a uni-directional circuit which is mounted inside the casing i0 and extends around the periphery thereof from a point slightly below the center of one side, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 2, to a point slightly below the center at the opposite side, and another electromagnet 4|| disposed inside the arrow and having a circuit whose direction of current iiow may be varied so as to cause it to pivot towards the opposite ends of the arcuate electromagnet 38 depending upon its polarity'as determined by the direc'- tion of the current flow. .The arcuate electromagnet is held in positionin the casing by means of the insulator block 39 at the center thereof 40 and insulating blocks 39 at the ends thereof surrounding the magnet and secured between the rims |6 and i6', while the magnet 46 disposed within the arrow is supported by having its lower en d embedded in the supporting sheet 3| Y4,5 with pole 4| projecting therethrough, while its upper vend projects outwardly through the top of the arrow and is provided with an enlarged head portion 42. The pole 4| of magnet 40 controls the operation of armature 31' and accordingly of latch 31.

One end of the winding of the magnet 40 is connected to a terminal 44 which is embedded in the sheet 3i and contacts the pivot 32 which in turn contacts the bearing 34, While the other end of the winding is connected to the terminals 45 which are secured to a' pair of resilient metal co tact arms 46 extending outwardly at an angle f m one face of the arrow and positioned so as to engage an arcuate metal contact strip 41 embedded in the glass side or wall |8 around the sides and top of thickened portion |9 and having its surface on the inside of thecasing exposed so as to make electrical contact with the arms 46.

The electric light 36 is connected by means of a wire 48 to the"other pivot 32' 'and bearing 34 through terminal 49 embedded in the supporting sheet 3| and by means of wire 58 to a pair of terminals 5| secured to spring metal contact arms 52 which are similar to arms 46 and which engage arcuate contact strip 53 similar to the strip 41 and embedded in the glass I8' so as to have an exposed surface inside the casing'. mak- 'ing contact with the arms 52. The contact arms 46 and the contact strips 41 and 53 are so arranged that the arms engage their respective strips throughout the pivotal movement of the arrow or directional pointer.

To actuate the magnets and to vary the direction` of current flow in the efectromagnet 40, I

provide a suitable source of current supply such ground by the wire 60, and the otherside is con.

nected by wires 6| and 62 and wires 6| and 63 to one end of each of the coils of the electromagnets 64 and 65 of vthe relays 51 and 59. The other end of the coil of the electromagnet 65 is connected by wire 66 to one terminal of the switch 58, the other terminals of the switch being grounded by wire 61, while the other end of the coil oi.' the magnet 644s connected by wire 68 -to one terminal of the switch 56 which is grounded by wire 89. Each of the relays 51 and 59 controls three circuit breakers, those of relay 51 being indicated by the numerals 1|),v 1|, and 12, and those of relay 59 being indicated by the numerals 13, 14, and 15. The switches are normally in open position but it will be seen that closing of the switch 58 will result in actuation of the electro- Amagnet 85 with the result that circuit breakers 13, 14, and 15 will be closed, while closing of the switch 58 will result in the actuation of 7the electromagnet 64 with-a corresponding closing of t'he 'by means of wire 11 to-a ground, the remaining switches 10 and 13 being connected by means of wires 18 and 63 and wire 19, respectively, to the u ngrounded terminal of the battery. 4

As previously stated, the current .flow of the arcuate electromagnet 38 is always uni-directional and accordingly the one end of the wiring of the magnet is connected by wire to the switch 15 and by the wires 80 and 8| to the switch 12, while the other end of the Wiring is connected by wires 83, 18 and 63 to the ungrounded terminal of the battery 55. Accordingly the operation'A of either of the switches 56 or 58 will result through the closing of switches 12 or 15 in current ilowing through the arcuate magnet 38 in the same direction, i. e., from the battery through wires 63 and 83 to the one end of the winding of magnet 38 and thence through wire 80, switch 15 to the ground or through wires 89 and 8|, switch 12 to the ground.

The direction of the current flow .through the magnet 48 varies in accordance with which switch is actuated. To accomplish this the contact strip 41 is connected by means of leads 85 and 86 to the switch 14 of relay 59 and by leads 85 and 81 to switch 10 of relay51, and bearing 34 is connected by wire 88 to switch 1| and by wires 88 and 89 to switch 13.

It will be seen that actuation of switch 58 results in completing the circuit of magnet 65 causing the switches 13, 14, and 15 to close. Current will then ilow from the battery through wires 63 and 83, through the arcuate magnet 38, wire 88, switch 15, wire 11, to the ground. Current will likewise flow from the battery through wire 19, switch 13, wires 89 and 88, bearing 34, pivot 32, terminal 44, through the coil of the magnet 40, thence through terminals 45, contact arms 46, contact strip 41, wires 8l accises and d6, and through switch it to the ground. This will result in the releasing of latch member il and the pivoting of arrow lli to the right to indicate a right turn as shown in full lines in Fig. l.

Actuation or the switch tit will result through the closing of switch l2 in a current flow through arcuate magnet 30 `in the same direction. However, the closing of switches l and lli will result in a flow of current through the coil of magnet i0 in a direction opposite to the dow caused by the closing of switches it and' lid. Thus upon the closing of switches 'l0 and lli 'the current will flow from battery 55 through wires 63 and i8, switch ld, wires El and 85, contact strip lll, contact arms dt, terminals d5, one end of the coil of magnet 30, and thence from the opposite end ofthe coil through terminal dit, pivot 32, bearing 3d, wire 83, and through switch 'll to the ground. Latch 3l will accordingly be released and the arrow l Il will thereupon be caused to pivot to the left, thereby indicating a left turn.

The circuit of light 3% disposed inside the arrow is controlled by switch 90 connected at one side by wire @Il to a ground, and the other side by wire 02 to bearing 3d' which in turn makes contact with pivot 32 connected by terminal t9 to wire i8 leading to the bulb 36.' The other wire 50 leading from the bulb 36 is connected through terminals to contact arms 52 which engage contact strip 53 which in turn is connected by wires d3, ESE, and Si to the ungrounded side of the battery 55. The closing of the switch 90 which is placed in convenient location inside the-car, such as on the steering post or dash board, results in lighting'of the light 30.

If desired, auxiliary signaling means, such as a pair of electric lights 94 and 05, may be provided. These are preferably mounted on the instrument panel in front of the driver so that he will have a visual indicator showing whether the signal is operating properly. One' side of light 94! is connected by wires 96 and 6| to the ungrounded side of the battery, while one side of light $5 is connected by wires 97 and 6| to the ungrounded side of the battery. The other sidev of light 9d is connected by wire- 98 to a normally open circuit breaker or switch 99 disposed a short distance before the left end of the arcuate magnet 38 in the path of movement of the arrow so that when the arrow is caused to pivot to the left by the actuation of switch 56 the enlarged protruding head 62 of the core of magnet di: will engage the switch 99 and close it. The other side of the switch 99 is connected by wire E00 to a suitable ground with the result that the closing of switch 99 by the pivoting of the arrow to the left will result in lighting of light 94, thus indicating to the driver that the signaling apparatus is operating properly. The other side of light 95 is connected by wire |0I to normally open circuit breaker or switch |02 disposed a short distance from the right end of arcuate magnet 38 in the path of movement of the arrow Il so that the enlarged end 42 of the core of magnet 40 will engage the switch and cause it to close, thereby completing the circuit from the battery through light' 95, switch |02, wire |03, to a ground. Both switches 99 and |02 are mounted inside the casing a short distance before the respective ends of arcuate magnet' 30 and are preferably secured to the rim it' of the casing.

Stop lights ldd and H05 should likewise be provided and these are preferably located. inside and mounted on the casing i@ adjacent the periphery 'of the bottom thereof between the rims it and it'. The word Stop may be stencilled in the name2@ adjacent the lights as indicated at |06. The operation of the stop lights is controlled in the well-known manner by means of switch i017 controlled by the actuation of the brake lever and which is connected by wire it to a suitable ground. Switch im is connected by wires |109 and Mii to light l0@ and by wires E00 andlll to light B05. Both lights are connected by means of wires M2, @3, and d2 to the ungrounded sidel of the battery To further protect the electrical circuits from being short-circuited or from being accidentally broken, i embed the leads to the contact strips di and 53 and to the bearings 315 and St in the glass sides of the casing as shown at 3b', 03', 92', and 93"' (the latter is not shown but corresponds to S5 on the opposite face of the apparatus). This is more specically shown in Figs. i and 2.

Fig. 2 it will he seen that these leads are completely surrounded by the glass sides of the casing and since the glass, as previously stated, is nonconducting, it wilt thoroughly insulate the leads. The lowerends of the glass embedded leads 85', 8%', 92 and 93 are connected to wires t5, 88, 92, and @3.

Thus it will 'he seen by the herein illustrated and described mechanism that an improved signaling apparatus has been provided of rugged and that furthermore the mechanism will operate in a positive and sure manner free from short circuits, poor connections, and the like, due to the improved electrical connections herein provided.

ll claim:

l. Signaling apparatus for vehicles comprising a casing having a transparent glass plate, a pivotally mounted directional pointer in said casing for indicating changes in direction of movement of the vehicle, an electromagnet in said pointer, and means for connecting said electromagnet to a source of electric current, said means comprising a contact strip embedded in said glass plate and having an exposed surface inside said casing, and a contact member mounted on said pointer and cooperable to engage said contact strip.

2.`Signaling apparatus for vehicles comprising a casing having a pair of transparent glass plates, a directional pointer pivotally mounted between the glass plates and provided with means for causing it to normally point in one direction, means including an electromagnet in the pointer for causing the pointer to pivot through an arc so as to indicate changes in the direction of movement of said vehicle, an electric bulb disposed in said pointer, and means for connecting said electromagnet and bulb to a source of electric current, said means including arcuately disposed contact strips embedded in said glass plates and having an exposed surface inside said casing and two contact members mounted on said strips.

WALTER LEO BALDWIN.

-pointer and cooperable to engage said contact 

